Lee University to Host Nine Seminars for Celebration 2026

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Cleveland, TN (10/29/2026) — Lee University's Celebration 2026 on Nov. 6 will welcome alumni, members of the campus community, and the public for nine seminars at 9 a.m., featuring speakers who will share their experiences and insights in fields ranging from engineering and music to ministry, medicine, and community development.

Dr. Augustin Bocco, Lee alumnus and winner of the Charles Paul Conn Award, will present a seminar titled "A Journey of Faith, Work, and Persistence" in the Edna Minor Conn Lecture Hall, located in the Vest Building. First arriving in the United States after political unrest forced him to leave his home country of Togo, Bocco now serves as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Tennessee Wesleyan University.

In his Dixon Center seminar, "Actual Results May Vary from Blueprint," Jack Bowen, CEO of BLDR Holdings, will present his vision for transforming communities through construction and development. He recently led the construction of Erlanger Park, the new home of the Chattanooga Lookouts. Throughout his career, Bowen has been recognized as a strategic visionary and servant leader, combining knowledge, operational experience, and integrity.

Lee alumnus Nathan Chapman will give a seminar titled, "The Duet Between Sound and Vision" in the Squires Recital Hall, located in the Humanities Building. Chapman is a three-time Grammy Award winner and has worked with some of the biggest names in music, producing multiple No. 1 hits with more than 50 major-label songwriting cuts. He is also an accomplished fine-art photographer, bringing his storytelling instinct to reveal the extraordinary in everyday life.

Lee alumna Dr. Anna Douglas will present "Engineering a Better Future" in the Walker Lecture Hall, located in the Science and Math Complex. During her career, Douglas has focused on turning scientific ideas into engineering solutions. Named to Forbes' 30 Under 30, Douglas co-founded and led SkyNano, developing new approaches to carbon management while working across the technological, economic, and policy changes that stand between a promising idea and real-world impact.

Dr. Jordan Halsey, also a Lee alumna, will present "Your Career Is a Story, Not a Checklist" in the Pat Carroll Lecture Hall, located in the School of Nursing. Halsey is a pediatric craniofacial surgeon and associate professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Johns Hopkins University. She draws on her experience to consider how setbacks, authenticity, relationships, community, and leadership can shape a career in unexpected ways.

Lee alumna Dr. Tammy Johnson will present a seminar titled "Beyond Expectations: Helping Students with Autism Thrive," drawing on her extensive background in applied behavior analysis. This will take place in the Rose Lecture Hall, located in the Helen DeVos College of Education. Under her leadership, the small university-based program, LudicSC, has grown into a specialized school serving students and families throughout the Cleveland community.

Lee alumni Taylor Jones and Eric Brown will present "Designing the World That Ought to Be" in the Buzz Oates Theatre, located in the Communication Arts Building. Jones and Brown co-founded Whiteboard, a creative agency that helps organizations turn vision into meaningful brands and digital experiences. The pair will reflect on how the Lee experience shaped their understanding of vocation, how community became central to their work, and how their friendship has enabled them to help mission-driven leaders and organizations bring ideas to life.

Dr. David E. Ramirez will present "Global Ministry: The World at Our Table" in the Cornerstone Chapel. Ramirez's ministry has included service as a missionary, local pastor, president of the South American Seminary, field director for Latin America, and eight years as Third Assistant General Overseer of the Church of God. In 2026, he became the first foreign-born leader elected Director of World Missions for the Church of God.

Lee alumnus Bob Rodgers, president and CEO of Street Grace, will give a seminar titled "Fighting for the Vulnerable: Faith, Courage, and Social Impact" in the Johnson Lecture Hall, located in the Humanities Building. His work in fighting against human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children has brought him before Congress and to the White House to share his expertise.

Following the seminars, a Service of Celebration will take place at 10:30 a.m. in the Conn Center. The service will feature music from the 300-voice Festival Choir and Orchestra, a keynote address by Lee University President Dr. Phil Cook, and a dedication of the David and Mary Ellen Wright School of Engineering and Computer Science.

All attendees are invited to an open house and reception at the new engineering building following the service.

Morning classes at Lee will be canceled to allow students to participate in Celebration events.

For more information about Celebration 2026 speakers, contact the Academic Affairs Office at (423) 614-8118.